Gloria Estefan musical 'On Your Feet' comes to King Center

Support local journalism by subscribing at Special Offers - USAToday Network.

Orlando resident Miguel Flores knew the rhythm was definitely going to get him after he made the cut to be part of the ensemble of “On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan.”

“Fierce!" Flores said of the auditions. “I remember looking at the dance combination for the audition and saying: 'And who’s gonna do that?'”

Now Flores does that and more, as Central Florida audiences will see when he and the rest of the American Theatre Guild’s Broadway touring cast of “On Your Feet!” visit the King Center to perform the jukebox musical March 12 and 13.

50 things to do in March: Outdoor festivals, comedy, concerts and more come to Brevard

Cult favorite on stage: 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert' rolls into Titusville Playhouse

Passion and heart: Empowering musical 'The Color Purple' shines at Henegar Center

As the name describes, “On Your Feet” is the story of the Estefans’ rise to global stardom with Miami Sound Machine, a journey that earned them 26 Grammy Awards. With songs like “Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” “Conga,” “Get on Your Feet,” “Don’t Want to Lose You Now,” “1-2-3,” and “Coming Out of the Dark” as part of the score, “On Your Feet!” is easy to love, even without the engaging back story of two very likable and creative artists. By the way, Gloria will be inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame this June, the first Latino woman to receive the honor.

The couple were very involved in the birth of the musical, which made its Broadway debut in 2015.

“They developed the production for its Broadway premiere,” said Seth Greenleaf, the Tony Award-winning producer responsible for bringing the show to the stage.

“It’s their story and very personal to them, so they worked very closely with playwright Alexander Dinelaris on the book and arrangements. It’s very accurate. The story is condensed as we’re telling two entire lives in just a couple of hours, but it’s made entirely of peak moments from their lives and careers. In fact, the Estefans were just at the show in Naples, Florida, last week and were speaking with the cast and giving them small details and insights. It very much represents their personal experiences.”

Greenleaf adds that with 11 countries represented, the cast of “On Your Feet!” may well be the most internationally diverse company in the history of national tours.

Flores, for example, is from Puerto Rico, and brings with him an impressive resume.

“That’s where my interest in the arts started,” he said.

“When I was 18, I moved to Orlando and started working at Disney World, where I performed in parades and shows around the parks. I also performed on Royal Caribbean Cruise lines. I moved to NYC where I attended AMDA and had the opportunity to perform in many plays and musicals and acquired many skills that have made me a better artist. After NYC, I had the opportunity to move to Los Angeles which is another great city for our industry, and where I got a different point of view of how things can be on the other side of the country. And after all of that, I went back home to my beautiful Orlando.”

Luis Salgado, who performed in the original 2015 Broadway production and was the assistant Latin choreographer of “In the Heights” on Broadway, directed and choreographed the current production. Last year, he directed and choreographed the world premiere of “On Your Feet!” in Spanish at GALA Hispanic Theatre in Washington DC.

“This story exemplifies the American Dream through the eyes and work ethic of Cuban immigrants,” Salgado said.

“The Estefans have given us permission to dare to dream bigger. They allowed their truth to resonate through their music, penetrating all of us, whether you’re Latino or not. This joy is a gift we want to give to our audiences.”

If you go

'On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan'

Where: The King Center for the Performing Arts, 3865 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne

When: 7:30 p.m., Sunday and Monday, March 12 and 13

Tickets: $49 to $79

Info: 321-242-2219

On the web: kingcenter.com

Whether you're interested in music, theater, festivals or other local entertainment, FLORIDA TODAY has got you covered. Support local journalism by subscribing at Special Offers - USAToday Network.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 'On Your Feet!' brings Emilio and Gloria Estefan's story to Melbourne